Dear Special Education Directors and TN PULSE Administrators,

Districts must run, review, and verify the accuracy of TN PULSE reports as part of the 2025-26 End of Year (EOY) Data Reports for Students with Disabilities. These reports are required for both federal and state reporting/compliance and must be submitted to the Tennessee Department of Education via ePlan by the deadline of August 31, 2026. Please carefully review the instructions for the 2025-26 EOY Data Reports for SWDs, which are now available in the TDOE Resources section of ePlan and in the TDOE Communication folder in the TN PULSE Resource Library, to ensure that all data contained in TN PULSE are accurate and final.   

Districts will use the ePlan Data Reports for Students with Disabilities Data and Information Tool to submit and certify data. Districts will need to change the status of the FY25 Data Reports for Students with Disabilities to “Revision Started” in order to access the EOY Data Reports for SWDs. A technical application guide for this tool is available here.

If you have any questions about the EOY Data Reports for SWDs, please contact IDEA.Data.Support@tn.gov. The IDEA Data Team also hosts weekly office hours on Mondays from 1:30-2:30 PM CT, which can be accessed through the following link.

The department is pleased to announce a dedicated McKinney-Vento Homeless Programming Mini-Conference taking place on Monday, Aug. 24, before the 2026 FPI (Aug. 25–27). This full-day session (8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. ET) will feature keynote speakers offering valuable insights into the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) program. Attendees will also participate in roundtable discussions designed to share ideas, strategies, and resources from the field. All LEA homeless liaisons should plan to attend this insightful day of professional development.  

To register for this focused professional development opportunity, please complete the conference registration form by Aug. 7.

The department is pleased to announce the Extended Learning Project Director Institute for all 21st CCLC and LEAPs grantees, taking place Aug. 24-25, at the Chattanooga Convention Center. This required training will provide Project Directors with important program updates, guidance, and resources to support successful implementation of FY27 grant activities. The training will begin with a full-day session on Monday, Aug. 24, followed by a half-day session on Tuesday, Aug. 25. Attendance is mandatory for all Project Directors, and participants are expected to attend both days.

There is no registration fee associated with this training. Additionally, all travel expenses incurred to attend are eligible for reimbursement through FY27 grant funds (line -524).

To register for this required training opportunity, please complete the Project Director Training registration form by Aug. 7.

Contact: Suzanne.Lewis@tn.gov

Join colleagues from across the state Aug. 25-27, at the Chattanooga Convention Center as we rise together and explore updated federal program guidance, emerging trends, and innovative strategies for guiding every student higher. This year's institute offers valuable opportunities to learn, collaborate, and share best practices that support student success. There are no registration or conference fees associated with this year's institute.

The draft agenda is now available.

Lunch will be on your own. 

To register for the 2026 FPI, please complete the registration form by Aug. 14. 

Due to space constraints, there will be a limit of three registrants for the Top 20 Largest Districts and two registrants for all other LEAs.